Question # 1: What is a big problem you have? Question # 2: How can you make that problem much worse? Question # 3: What is the best idea for making the problem much worse? Question # 4: What is the opposite?

1. Brainstorming
Reverse the problem
method

2. Question # 1
What is a big problem
you have?

3. Example
People throw trash in the streets.

4. Question # 2
How can you make that
problem much worse?

5. Examples
1. Remove all trash cans in your household.
2. Remove all disposal and recycling containers in the
streets.
3. Throw all trash you have in the streets.
4. Stop educating children about disposal and recycling.

6. Question # 3
What is the best idea for
making the problem
much worse?

7. Criteria to use when selecting the best idea
to make the problem worse
The idea is highly unattractive
for as many citizens as possible.

8. Question # 4
What is the opposite?

9. Examples of ideas
1. Increase the number of disposal and recycling
locations for all kinds of products in the streets.
2. Educate children more about disposal and recycling.

10. Examples of sources
http://creatingminds.org/tools/reverse_brainstorming.htm
http://www.designorate.com/design-thinking-tools-reverse-brainstorming
http://www.destination-innovation.com/articles/brainstorming-techniques-nominal-method-and-reverse-the-problem
http://dux.typepad.com/dux/2011/01/this-is-the-fourth-in-a-series-of-100-short-articles-about-ux-design-and-
evaluation-methods-todays-method-is-called-rever.html
http://www.freespirit.com/files/other/Diff-for-Gifted-Learners21.pdf
http://www.halogensoftware.com/blog/how-to-solve-problems-with-reverse-brainstorming
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_96.htm
http://www.startupcabin.com/blog/reverse-brainstorming
http://www.washington.edu/research/rapid/resources/toolsTemplates/reverse_brainstorming.pdf